Lambeth Palace has issued this press release:
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, is delighted to announce the appointment of Ailsa Anderson LVO as Director of Communications at Lambeth Palace. Mrs Anderson is currently the Communications and Press Secretary to The Queen.
Mrs Anderson will be the primary spokesperson for the Archbishop, and a member of his senior team at Lambeth Palace.
She will manage the Lambeth Palace communications team, overseeing day to day contact with the media as well as driving and developing strategic communications. The role has responsibility not only to oversee how the Archbishop is represented to the press, but also to provide him with regular advice and guidance where the media are concerned.
A former newspaper journalist, Mrs Anderson brings extensive experience of public relations. She was appointed Communications and Press Secretary to The Queen in October 2010, having been Deputy Press Secretary to Her Majesty and Head of News at Buckingham Palace since June 2007. From May 2001 to June 2007, she was Assistant Press Secretary to The Queen. Mrs Anderson has also acted as Press Secretary to two ministers of state and a cabinet minister.
Mrs Anderson will take up the role in December. The exact date is yet to be finalised.
Speaking about the appointment, Archbishop Justin said: “Ailsa Anderson is an experienced and distinguished communications director with an exceptional record of service. I am absolutely delighted and honoured that she has chosen to use her great skills and experience in the service of the Church, and greatly look forward to working with her.”
So thrilled with Ailsa’s appointment. God’s richest blessing and wisdom as is only bestowed from on high – to Him be the glory! Praying for strength in your daily lives. Brooke & Caroline Snell
I’m not sure that the phrase ‘exceptional record of service’ is a great one to use in this context. It makes her sound like she is a war hero. It’s the kind of thing you might expect an old boy from Eton would say. Oh…..um…
What’s the matter with facing a camera or microphone directly or using fingers on the keyboard and saying what you think is right?
I find it most interesting that the Archbishop of Canterbury needs a Press Secretary, when Pope Francis seemingly needs no intermediary – with either press or public relationships. He ‘shoots from the hip’, already!